010　Indigo blue scroll

One day, I received an uncommon gift. 

"Is this a scroll?" 

"Yes, it's from the Minister of the Left's mansion." 

It was the cover of indigo blue. I've never seen it before, but I imagined the color of the sea to be like this. Does that mean it came from Lady Aoi, from Minister of the Left's mansion? I thought I had received a wonderful gift, but when I opened it, it was a mostly blank scroll. The rest of the paper was blank, but there was a picture drawn in black ink at the beginning. It depicted gorgeous furniture, bamboo blinds, stylish cloth room screens, several ladies-in-waiting, and a room with no view of the outside.

"This is all of me." 

There was just one sentence written next to drawing. Does this mean the world seen through Lady Aoi's eyes? I was in a similar situation, so I smiled and felt strangely void. I've given up on this because I'm destined to become Mikado, but I wonder what kind of future she envisioned growing up.

"Is there anyone who is good at drawing?" 

I looked for a court lady to draw a picture for her. I then asked her to sit in my seat and draw the view from there. 

"Do I sit in your seat, sir?!" 

She was very hesitant, but I managed to convince her to draw it for me. In return for the drawing, I wanted Lady Aoi to know the view from my seat. 

"Would you like me to draw you in this picture, sir?" 

She asked me that but I declined. Lady Aoi might be disappointed when she sees me. And I thought it would be impolite to make her worry that if I had been drawn, she would have to draw herself as well in response. 

"This is my current room." 

I also added a sentence next to the picture, waited for the ink to dry, then rolled it up and handed it to the messenger. It's convenient to not have to worry about what kind of paper to use each time. It seemed more formal and serious than secret correspondence, and it suited my tastes. 

"Hikaru, I received a letter from Lady Aoi..." 

"I know that." 

When I asked him about it one day, he said without batting an eye. 

"Continue regardless of me." 

It was a very short response, taking less than five seconds. I felt pain in my heart. I wonder if Hikaru is obsessed with something other than Lady Aoi. 

"Your Highness, regarding your outfit for the next event―" 

"Oh, yes"

The whole day went by just matching the colors and accessories of my costume. Father's outing to Suzaku-in (late Emperor's mansion) is coming soon. This is a very important event, so as the Crown Prince, I will also be participating. Mikado is hard because just stepping out of the Imperial Palace is considered an event. It seems that our important role is to be at the Imperial Palace at all times.

"I found some books like this. How about lending these to Ooitono?" 

A court lady came out from the back of the room and recommended those to me. Ooitono is the name of the Minister of the Left's mansion where Lady Aoi lives. 

"How would you like to give her this small box of gold-relief lacquerware with inlaid mother-of-pearl decoration, too?" 

"Wouldn't that bother her?" 

"Don't worry, please leave it to us." 

I had never given a gift to a woman before, so I was confused because I didn't know the etiquette. But since this is the advice of the talented court ladies who work at this residence, I will follow it. 

"When it comes to a thoughtful gift, who gave it is more important than what's inside." 

"Oh, I see." 

The lady who always hands me letters told me this, so I nodded in admiration. 

"Then, would you all like to collect your recommended items and give them to her from Umetsubo?" 

When I said this to everyone, they all happily nodded and got to work. For some reason, the court ladies were very cooperative in my correspondence with Lady Aoi, so I felt grateful and dependable.